Apparatus for closing bags



Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUSFOR CLOSING BAGS 7 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed July 15, 1933 Nov. 2, 1937; R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAs Filed July 15', 1955 "r Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBER T N M M M W 6 W0 m L Tmbfi m Nov'. 2,1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,448

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed July 15, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet s QJJ - I ROBERT /V CU/VDALL L INCOLN A Cu/vpA L'L Nov. 2', 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1953 wllllv l l I 1 4% ROBERT/V Cl/NDA LL L //vc0L/v A CUNDA LL Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1933 Nov; 2, 1937.

R. N. CUNDALL ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed July 15, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Razz/QT /V Cl/NDALL y L INC'OL/V A Cu/vaA LL Nov. 2, 1937. R. N. CUNDALL ET AL 2,097,448

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed July 15, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 9085/? 7' N u/vaA LL Patented Nov. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Robert N. Cundall, Lackawanna, and Lincoln A. Cundall, Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to Bagpak, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1933, Serial No. 680,538

12 Claims. (01. 112-11) Our invention relates to a machine for closing the open ends of filled bags such as are used to contain granular or pulverulent materials, and more particularly bags made up of several plies of paper or fabric.

One object of our invention is to devise a machine which will uniformly close filled bags, forming neat and efiicient closures.

' Our invention is particularly adapted to close the ends of multi-ply paper bags by looping sewing. thread over reinforcing cords, and adhering a strip of binding material over the ends of the plies and down the sides of the bag over the reinforcing cords and threads.

Certain features of the mechanism herein dis closed constitute improvements in, or modifications of, mechanism disclosed in the copending applications, Serial Number 640,758 of Robert N.

Cundall, filed November 2, 1932 and Serial Number 666,114 of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, filed April 14, 1933. We also draw attention to the fact that certain of the features disclosed in the aforementioned applications and certain of the features disclosed in this application are likewise disclosed in the copending application, Serial Number 686,816 of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, filed September 9, 1933. These features for the most part comprise improvements in mechanism for applying a strip of material over the end of the bag to thereby seal the same, and it is not our intention to herein claim those features which constitute elements of the inventions disclosed in the aforementioned applications.

Separate features of our invention which contribute to make it a practical machine-will hereinafter be pointed out and will be apparent in the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, and particularly emphasized in the 40 appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts; a 1

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of our entire machine;.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking at the left end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the bag conveying carriage and a portion of the frame;

v Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the bag grip- I pers or clamps; 55 Fig. 7 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the adhesive applying mechanism seen in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 11 isapartial end elevation thereof;

Fig. 12 is a partial plan view thereof;

Fig. 13 is a view showing a guide roll over which the tape passes;

Fig. 14. is a perspective view of a tape guide as- 10 Fig. 21 is an exploded view in perspective of the shears showing its component parts.

Our machine is shown in full in Fig. l and comprises four component parts which cooperate to stitch the bag, apply filler cords and binding tape thereto and press the tape firmly into place. The 25 component parts consist of a carriage indicated at A in Fig. 1, a sewing mechanism indicated at B, a tape gumming device indicated at C and a pressing mechanism indicated at D. Details of these parts and their inter-relationship will be 0 hereinafter pointed out with particularity in connection with the several views.

The frame of the machine consists of upright angle posts l0 and H joined by a reenforced angle beam t2 upon which parts of the machine justment of the beam on the posts. 40

Extending forwardly from the lower ends of posts Ill and H are angles l3 and M forming a base for the machine. Angles l5 and I6 extend forwardly from posts l0 and It above angles l3 and it and are bolted to the posts through slots therein. The forward ends of angles l5 and I6 are supported by bars I? having slots through which bolts adjustably attach the bars to the angles. Angles. l5 and "5 may thus be adjusted at either end to level tracks l8 attached thereto, or to bodily raise them to a'difierent level. Tracks l8 extend beyond posts Hi and H and are braced by angles l 9- joining their-ends from which abutments 20 and 21 extend upwardly to limit the travel of the carriage on tracks I8. I

Mounted on tracks It is the bag conveying carriage indicated at A in Fig. 1, and more fully detailed in Figs. 4 and 5. The floor frame 22 of the carriage is built up of angles from which rise angle posts 23. A plate 24 is attached to posts 23 and curved outward over frame 22 and attached thereto. A second plate 25 is held forwardly of plate 24 by bolts 25 and is curved outward a short distance over plate 24; The curve of plate 25 conforms to the shape of a filled bag as indicated in Fig. 5. Bolts 26 are adjustable to enable plate 25 to accommodate various sizes of bags while maintaining their centers in line with the closing mechanisms.

The carriage is supported on wheels 21 running on tracks 19. A cord 23 is attached to a pin 29 at the right end of the inner track l8 and passes under a pulley 39 attached to the carriage and over a pulley 31 (Fig. 1) mounted on a post 32 extending upwardly from the left end of the track. A weight 33 is attached to the free end of cord 23. "As the carriage is manually pushed toward the left, weight 32 is raised by the leveling of cord 23 under pulley 30. The

tension on cord 23, dueto the weight 33, is calculated to return the carriage to the right against abutment 20 when empty, but will not be sumcient to move it when loaded with a filled bag.

The ends of carriage posts 23 are joined by an angle beam 35 above the upper edge of plate 24. Bars 36 are attached to beam 35 by means of bolts extending through slots which allow vertical ad-. justment of the bars. An angle beam 31 having one side extending forward over the carriage is pivotally connected to the upper ends of bars 36. A spring 38 normally tends to keep bars 36 vertical, but allows their upper ends and beam 31 a limited movement toward the left.

Mounted on beam 31 are gripping jaws or clamps, indicated generally at 39 and 40 in Fig. 4, and detailed in Figs. 6, '1, 8 and 9. A description of one of the clamps will now be glven,'clamps 39 and 40. being identicalrbut opposed and in re-- versed relationship to grip the opposite edges of a bag.

Plates 41 are bolted toithe top of the forwardly extending side of beam' 31 throughslots which allow accommodation of different widths of bags. The inner jaw 42 is mounted on the end of a plate 43 guided by flanged blocks 44 for sliding movement over the top of plate 4|. A bolt 45 extending through a :slot 45 in plate 4| and screwed into plate 43 assists in guiding the jaw and prevents any tendency to swing upward under pressure.- A ing 41 gin plate 43 extends downwardly through a slot 493m plate 4i and carries a short rod 49. A spring 53 encircling rod 49 and compressed between lug 41 and .a depending ing 51 on plate 41 terids to keep jaw 42 at its outer position. Bolt 49 is shorter than the space between lugs 41 and II to allow the jaw inward movement. Jaw .42 is limited in its outward movement by an extension 52 of plate 43 which terminates in a curved surface bearing against an opposed curved surface on the short arm 51 of pivoted jaw 53. Jaw 53 is pivotally mounted at 54 on plate 4| and has a finger hold 55 at its outer end. Extension 52 of plate 43 being outwardly of pivot 54 tends to keep jaw 53 against jaw 42 under the compression of spring 50. A spring 59 stretched between a pin on plate 4| and a pin 56 on law 53 assures the closureof the pivoted jaw. Jaw 53 is free to swing inwardly against jaw 42, while the short arm 51 striking plate 43 limits its outward movement. A short channel bar 58 depending from the forward edge of plate 43 forms a convenient guide against which the operator can grip the side of a bag while positioning it. Jaws 42 and 53 are preferably cut away from each other inwardly from their ends and have inserted blocks which may be of some frictional material such as rubber. fiber or cork to insure a tight grip on the bag without marring its surface.

. A guide 62 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5)-is supported on an angle bar 69 extending horizontally to the right of post H and vertically adjustable thereon. Rods 6| extend forwardly from bar 60 and support the guide above the tops of the grippers 39 and 49. As seen in Fig. 4, the guide consists 'of a T-shaped bar 62 with the armsv of the 1' vertical, rods 61 being adjustably attached through vertical slots in the upper arm. The leg of the T extends forward over the tops of jaws 42 and 53 for the greater part of its length and is bent downward at 'its left end to form a constricted channel with the lower arm of the T, which channel is in line with the operating mechanisms B, C, and D.

The operator in positioning a filled bag places it upon the carriage while the carriage is at its extreme right position. By grasping the finger holds 55 on the movable gripping jaws and pulling them outward the jaws will be spread sufficlently to allow the insertion of the collapsed bag end. The operator holds one edge of the bag against the channel 58 of gripper 39, the mouth of the bag extending up through the open jaws against the lower vertical arm of the T-guide 62. Movable jaw 53 is now allowed to snap shut, the inner jaw 42 sliding inward against the compression of spring 5| to allow for the thickness of the bag, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, while spring 59 holds the outer jaw 53 clamped against the outer side of the bag. The other edge of the bag is stretched taut and similarly clamped by gripper 40 as indicated in skeleton outline in Fig. 6. The operator can now move the carriage toward the left, the open projecting end of the bag being guided and compressed through the channel formed on guide 62.

As seen in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, a plurality of operating treadles is mounted on rods extending between bars l3 and I4. Treadle 63 mounted at the right is so connected that it will draw a link;

54 forward, rocking a shaft 65 and throwing an adjustable connecting rod 55 upward. Rods 55, Figs. 17 and 18, is pivotally connected to a bell crank 51, one arm of which forms a clutch yoke 59 straddling a shiftable clutch element 59 loosely mounted on a clutch shaft. A continuously rotating motor 19 is mounted on beam 12 and has a belt drive 11 to a pulley 12 formed on one flange of clutch element 69. A similar pulley 13 is mounted loosely on the clutch shaft, and a friction element is interposed between pulleys 12 and 13. The shifting of clutch yoke 69 and clutch element 69 forwardly by treadle 63 causes the motor 19 to drive the sewing unit B through pulley 13 and belt drive 14. The pulley 13 and sewing unit shift clutch element 69 toward the rear. A friction clutch element 16 formedon the other flange of clutch element 69 is forced against an opposed friction clutch element 11 fixed to the shaft. The

and drives the tape pressing mechanism through a gear within a housing I8 and a worm gear affixed on the shaft.

By driving both the sewing mechanism and the pressing mechanism through a single shiftable clutch element operated by treadles 63 and 15, it is positively insured that only one of said mechanisms can be operated at one time. The treadles are spaced so that the operator can depress only the appropriate treadle to operate the mechanism in which the bag is then positioned.

The operator, grasping the bag or a portion of the carriage, causes the carriage to roll forward along tracks I8, while depressing treadle'63. The

projecting open end of the bag is guided into the I which prevent the sewing thread from tearing throughthe walls of the bag. The sewing unit B- preferably of the type described and. claimed in Letters Patent of the United States #1,963,652

issued to Robert N. Cundall and dated June 19, w

1934, is conveniently mounted on a bracket fastened to beam I2 and operates in a well-known manner, the sewing thread being supplied from spools mounted on holders 8| and drawnthroigh guides 82, while the filler cords are supplied from spools held in baskets 83 and drawn through guides 84. The bag end is gripped by the sewing machine feed-dog and fed forwardly in rapid, jerky steps, spacing the needle holes approximately a quarter of an inch apart. The action of the feed dog is suificient in itself to tend to feed the bag and carriage forward, but their combined inertia would cause the dog to slip and uneven stitching would result if it were not that the grippers 39 and 40 were allowed to oscillate slightly in the direction of travel due to their being mounted on the bars 36 biased by the sewing thread and trail behind the bag, at-

taching it to the'sewing mechanism. Therefore a shearing or clipping mechanism is mounted to the left of the sewing unit to separate the bag therefrom. v

This clipping mechanism is indicated generally at in Fig. 1 and detailed in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, and willnow be described. The'mechanism is mounted on a bracket 86 supported on and above beam I2 .and extends forwardly into the line of travel of the bag-end. A fixed blade 81 is positioned behind and to one side of the bag and a movable blade 88 swings inward from the forward side of the bag to cooperate therewith. The bracket 86 terminates in a machined hearing face 89 having a pivot hole 90 therein through which the pivot 9| of the movable blade 88 extends. Blade 81 is mounted on a boss 92 depending from bracket 86 and relieved inwardly from the bearing face 89. The blade is attached thereto by screws 93 countersunk into the blade and forms a continuation of bearing face 89-. Movable blade 88 is mounted on'a pivoted block 94 having a hole 95 through which pivot pin 9I extends. The blade is attached by countersunk screws 96 and is backed against a guide 91 which extends forwardly from block 94 and bears against face 89 of bracket 86. Pins 98 extend through openings 99 in block 94 and terminate in smooth fiat heads I00 which also bear against in a handle I03. A boss I04 at its inner end bears against boss I02 and a pivot pin I05 extends through both. A short arm I06 depends from lever IOI and has a b0ss'I0'I extending inwardly from its lower end in which an elongate hole or slot I08 is formed. A bolt I09 extends through hole I08 and is fixed at its inner end in a hole II 0 in block 94 by means of a set screw III. The elongate hole -I08 allows translation of the downward movement of handle I03 to the pivoting of movable blade 88. The pivot 9| of the movable blade extends through hole 95 and has a reduced end I I2 extending through hole 90 and fixed to the bracket by nut II3. A similarly reduced end II4 has a nut II5 thereon by means of which the compression of a. spring II6 encircling the pivot pin and bearing against the outer face of block 94 may be adjusted to regulate the force with which the movable blade is pressed against the fixed blade. Spring II6 holds the movable blade in contact with the fixed blade, and pins 98 against surface 89, throughout the movement of blade 88 so that the blades cut cleanly throughout the entire shearing stroke. Bracket 86 has a hole In therein in which a pin II8 is mounted. A spring H9 is stretched between pin H8 and the outer end of one of the Arms I22 and I23 of member 94 straddle the screw head and thus the movement of blade 88 is limited in both directions of travel.

, It is thus seen that a compact adjustable clipping mechanism is provided which will quickly clip the attached reinforcing cords and does not require the attention of the operator to re-' turn it to inoperative position. I

The leading edge of the bag mouth extends forwardly into a tape folding guide I25 when the trailing edge clears the clipping mechanism 85. A strip of adhesive binding tape is folded by the guide or former I25 over the mouth of the bag and down along its sides, covering the reinforcing cords.

by mechanism indicated at C in Fig. 1 and detailed in Figs. 2, 3, and 10 to 16 inclusive.

The tape is preferably of crinkly kraft paper and is supplied from a roll I26 loosely mounted on a bracket I21 extending forward over the bag from an angle post I28 mounted on beam I2.

The tape is supplied from a roll I26 1 (Fig. 1) and is gummed and folded over the bag The tape extends downwardly into the gumming mechanism, detailed in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, wherein adhesive is applied to its lower surface by a roller I29 dipping into a bath of adhesivein a nating in outward flanges to firmly set. Roll I29 is mounted on pivot pins I34 screwed into lugs extending upwardly from the sidewalls of tank I30 and fixed by set screws I35. As seen in Fig. 12, one or both of pivots I34 may have a knurled head by means of which it is easily adjusted. Screws I35 may also have knurled heads I36 to allow their ready adjustment. Screws I35 extend through bars I31 and have knurled lock nuts I38 thereon holding the bars I31 firmly against the tops of the lugs in which pivots I34 are mounted. Bars I31 extend beyond the ends of tank I30 and carry a guide roll I39 at each end about which the tape is guided so that it is held against roll I29 for nearly half of its periphery. Fixed to the ends of bars I31 on the side of the tank from which the gummed tape leaves, are cross bars I40 termi- I4I at theirupper ends and forks I42 at their lower ends. A wiper blade I43 extends across the lower surface of the guide roll I39 and is guided by the forks I42. Springs I44 attached to the ends of blade I43 and to the flanges I4I yieldingly press the blade upward against the gummed surface of the tape to wipe off any excess adhesive while spreading and smoothing the adhesive on the tape. A drip plate I45 is attached to blade I43 and extends into the tank I36 to return any excess adhesive thereto.

The gummed tape as it leaves the adhesive applier is guided by a flanged plate I48 detailed in Fig. I4. This plate is supported by'depending arms I49 through which the pivot of a disc roll extends. The tape is guided around this roll and has its gummed surface in contact therewith, so that in order not to remove the adhesive from the tape, the roll is built up of discs I50 separatedbyspreaders II. The roll is supported in'arms'l52 extending upwardly from a bracket I53 attached to the frame. The tape is then guided forward over a flanged roll I54 the lower edge vof whichis positioned over the upper end ofthe bag. The tape, horizontally positioned abovethe end of the bag, is drawn forward into a former I25 (Fig. 15) The former is attached to bracket I53 and consists of a curved plate which terminates in a flange I55 guiding the tape therein. The'other endof the plate is bent'almost upon itself'as seen in I56, the transition from one end-to the otherbeing gradual and allowing the tape to bend over the sides of the bag in a smooth, neat manner. The edges of the tape are guided in 'reentrant portions I51 extend- ,ing along the edges of the plate. The leading edge of the. bag is positioned within the former I25 and is stopped therein, before it contacts the gummed tape, while the operator clips the reinforcing cords by means of shears 85.

' The operator now depresses treadle 15 causing the shifting of the clutch element 69 to the rear and rotation of the gearing in housing 18. The tape pressing mechanism D is rotated through these gears and presses the tape firmly against the sides of Ihe bag to insure a close adherence of the tape thereto while feeding the ba forward. The pressing mechanism is detailed in Figs; 1, 2, 17' and 18 and will now be described.

A shaft extends downwardly from the hous ing -18 and is supported in a vertical bearing atv the end of a bracket I50, which also supports the clutch and assoc ated pulleys. A sprocket I6I, a gear I62 and a pressing and feeding roll I63 are fixed to this shaft and rotate therewith, the pressing roll bcfnr: located to the rear of the upper edge of the bag. A similar shaft is mounted to the left of the first shaft on an extension of;

bracket I60 and carries a similar sprocket I64,

mounted to the right of the housing and carries a similar sprocket I61, gear I68 and pressing roll I69. A sprocket chain I is driven by sprocket. I6I and drives sprockets I64 and I61, rotating their associated gears and pressing rolls. Anidler sprocket I1I bears against the sprocket chain and adjusts its tension by means of an adjustment screw I12 bearing against the arm on which the idler is pivoted and an abutment fixed to bracket I60. Mounted forwardly of each of these three vertical shafts are similar shafts carrying gears meshing with the opposed gears and pressing rolls bearing against the opposed pressing rolls. Thus the gear I6I drives a gear I13 and a pressing roll I14, gear I64 drives a, gear I and a pressing roll I16, and gear I61 drives a gear I11 and a pressing roll I18. These three outer shafts are resiliently pressed inwardly toward the inner shafts, the pressing roll I13 being mounted on arms I19 and the pressing roll I16 being mounted on opposed arms I80, the arms being pivoted to an extension of bracket I60. A lug I8I having a bolt I82 therein forms a bell crank with the arms I19, and a lug I83 having a bolt I84 therein forms an opposed bell crank with the arm I80. A spring I85 is seated on bolts I82 and I84 and resiliently forces the pressing rolls I14 and I16 against pressing rolls I63 and I66. The compression of spring I85 may be adjusted by means of a nut I86 on bolt I84. Gear I11 and roll I18 are mounted on arms I90 pivoted at' I9I on an extension of bracket I60. A bolt I92 is threaded into this extension and passes through an arm I93 integral with arms I90. A spring I94 bears against arm I93 and a'nut I95 on bolt I92 by means of which its compression may be adjusted. It is thus seen that afterthe tape is applied to the mouth of the bag by the former I it passes between three sets of rolls which not only feed the bag forward but resiliently press the tape firmly thereon, the pressure applied being easily regulated.

Each of the pressing rolls has a groove I96 extending around its periphery through which the bulge caused by the reinforcing cords may pass while allowing the surface of the roll above and below the groove to press firmly against the tape.

A set screw I91 is-amounted in one of arms I90,

' the end of which bears against bracket I60 to and operates the shears to .clip the tape. The portion of the tape remaining between the first set of pressing rolls will be in. position to be fed forward with the next bag. Treadle 15 is now depressed to feed the bag through the second and third sets ofpresser rolls, whereupon it is removed from the carriage. While the operator is engaged in disposing of the closed bag, the carriage returns of its own accord to the right end of the tracks in position to receive another open bag.

It will now be apparent that we have devised a compact and efficient machine which will close the ends of filled bags in the manner described to form a neat, tight closure, with a minimum of time and effort being expended by the operator of the machine. v As will be evident to those skilled in the art, our invention permits of modifications in many of its component parts while not departing from the spirit thereof, and We do not intend to be limited to the specific details illustrated, the scope of our invention being set forth in the following claims which are to be broadly construed.

What we claim is:

1. In a filled bag closing machine, means to convey a filled bag through the machine comprising a bag supporting and holding carriage, means to stitch through the open end of the bag, and

means to apply a strip of adhesive tape over the stitched end, said conveying means being so constructed and arranged as to continuouslyengage the end of the bag and maintain the same in a straight line of travel through said stitching and applying means.

2. In a filled bag closing machine, means to convey a filled bag through the machine, means tain the same in a straight line of travel during the presentation of the bag to each of said means and during the operation of each of. said means upon the bag. A

3. In a filled bag closing machine, a carriage to convey a filled bag therethrough, said carriage having bag end gripping jawsthereonmounted to oscillate in the direction of travel.

4. In a filled bag closing machine, a carriage to convey a filled bag therethrough, said carriage having bag end gripping jaws thereon mounted to .oscillate in the direction of travel, and, means to cause the return of-.the carriage to its initial position when the bag is removed therefrom.

5. In a filledbag closing machine, a bag-conveying carriage, said carriage having a back wall adjustably mounted to accommodate different sizes of bags while maintaining their open endswidths.

6. In a filled bag closing machine, bag closing means, a carriage having opposed gripping jaws thereon adapted to grip the open end of a filled bag and maintain it in line with said closing means, said jaws being held closed by resilient means allowing them to accommodate diiIerent thicknessesof bags. a

'7. In a filled bag closing machine, bag closin means, a carriage having opposed grippers thereon adapted to grip theopen end of a filled bag and maintain it in line with said closing means, each of said grippers comprising an inner jaw guided for rectilinear movement on a supporting plate and resiliently forced outward, and an outer jaw pivoted on said supporting plate and resiliently forced inward.

8. In a filled bag closing machine, bag closing means, a carriage having opposed grippers thereon adapted to grip the open end of a filled bag and maintain it in line with said closing means, each of said grippers comprising an inner jaw guided for rectilinear movement on a supporting plate and resiliently forced outward, an outer jaw pivoted on said supporting plate and resiliently forced inward, and means to limit the movements of both jaws.

9. In a filled bag closing machine, bag closing means, a carriage having opposed grippers thereon adapted to grip the open end of a filled bag and maintain it in line with said closing means, each of said grippers comprising an inner jaw guided for rectilinear movement on a supporting plate and resiliently forced outward, an outer jaw pivoted on said supporting plate and resiliently forced inward, means to limit the movements of both jaws, and inserts of frictional material in the gripping surfaces of the jaws.

10. In'a filled bag closing machine, a carriage having bag end grippers mounted to oscillate in the direction of travel of said carriage, a sewing machine beneath which said carriage travels and to which said grippers present the open end of the bag to be closed thereby, means to apply a tape to the end of the bag and covering the line of stitches to protect the stitches and seal the bag.

clutch, and a linkage connecting said clutch engaging lever to said rock shaft for movement in accordance with its direction of rotation so that neither the sewing machinenor the tape applying means may operate while the other of said means is in operation.

'11. In a filled bag closing machine, means to stitch throughthe open end of a bag to close the same, means to apply a strip of adhesive tape over the end of the bag to protect the closing seam and prevent the escapeoi' material, and a carriage to convey the main body of the bag through the machine in substantially uniform forward movement, said carriage being provided withv bag end grippers so mounted as to allow the end of the bag to be stitched to progress in a series of intermittent movements through said stitching means in synchronismwith the stitching action, and to progress in uniform movement through said tape applying means in synchronism with the main body of the bag.

12. In a filled bag closing machine, means to bag to be stitched and allowing said end to be progressed in a series of intermittent movements through said stitching means by the action of said stitching means.

- ROBERT NQcUNDALn LINCOLN a 

